Animal training device



June 17, 1958 w MElSTRELL 2,839,242

ANIMAL TRAINING DEVICE Filed May 18, 1955 :4 INVENTOR. IA, A wzZamol Z0.wuzza BY U 1 1 fin/ 'various stunts or for any other analogous purpose.

United States Patent Ofiice Patented June 17, 1958 ANllVIAL TRAININGDEVICE Harland W. Meistrell, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application May 18, 1955, Serial No. 509,331

Claims. (Cl. 231-2) This invention relates to an animal training deviceand more particularly to a training device for dogs and may be employedin teaching a dog obedience or to perfar hm e present application is acontinuation in part of my prior application Serial No. 446,587, filedJuly 29, 1954, now abandoned. 1

The invention comprises a simple elongated rod preferably having handlemeans at one end while the other end is employed to apply a blow ofmodified impact force to the body of the dog while simultaneouslycreating a particular noise, i. e., of a crackling or rattling naturewhich is not a well defined noise but which is constantly variable sothat the dog does not become inured to the sound and responds promptlyand obediently even over long periods of time. Such a rattling, variablesound is found to be superior in eflect to one which produces a simplewhacking sound or one which is in the nature of a slap and which isalways substantially the same.

More specifically, the invention takes the form of an elongated rodwhich is longitudinally split into a plurality of arcuate sectionsforming in the aggregate a tube wherein the arcuate sections normallymake edgeto-edge contact with each other. When an object, i. e., theflank of a dog is struck with the device, the arcuate sections crackleagainst each other in random or haphazard form to produce the desiredrattle.

The invention further comprises annular ring members which bothstrengthen the rod and also serve to selectively modify the nature ofthe rattle as desired.

The invention will be further understood from the following descriptionand drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of thetraining rod;

Figure 2 is an elevational view thereof;

Figure 3 is a front end view thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFigure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 ofFigure 4.

The device comprises an elongated rod which, in the form shown, is ofbamboo although it may be fabricated of plastic or metal, as desired.The upper end 11 serves as a handle, a thong 12 being provided to assistin holding the device or hanging it up when not in use.

The rod is in substantially tubular form and is provided with aplurality of elongated parallel splits 13 herein illustrated as four innumber so as to provide four arcuate sections 14 which are in normaledge-to-edge contact thus forming in the aggregate a circle. The splits13 extend all the way up the application section of the tubular rod tothe handle section, or about /5 of its length in the form shown.

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The rod is shown as being formed of bamboo, a length thereof beingpreferably selected which is formed with the natural, integral annularn'dge or enlargement 15 and which is employed to separate the handlesection from the application section.

I further provide reenforcing rings which also serve as tone adjusters.Thus, an annular ring 16 is provided on the handle section, this ringmerely serving as a reenforcernent. A second ring 17 is provided on theapplication section and this ring is slidable along such applicationsection so as to effectively vary the rattling sound. This furthers theobjective of avoiding a rattling sound which is invariable as otherwisethe dogs get used to it and are less apt to respond.

Rings 16 and 17 are of round cross-section and preferably of resilientrubber so that they may be slid or rolled along the device as required.As above stated, ring 16 is ordinarily stationary but ring 17 may berolled or slid along the length of the application section so that itmay occupy an intermediate position as illustrated in Figure 1. Thiswill tend to tighten and confine the arcuate sections against largeamplitude rattling and thus restrict such rattling. On the other hand,when the ring is rolled up toward the handle end the rod is capable ofmuch louder rattling.

It will be obvious that the very nature of the device is such as tominimize the production of a sound of predetermined constancy because ofthe rattling nature of its components. Event such variable sound may befurther varied from time to time, as above described, by adjusting thelower ring 17 along the length of the device so that if a dog tends tobecome accustomed to the sound, such sound can be varied at will. Thedog will generally be directly struck upon the flank or any otherdesired portion of his body although it may also be used by hitting itagainst a solid object such as a table so that the dog hears the soundand may respond accordingly.

What is claimed is:

1. An animal training device comprising an elongated tubular memberhaving a handle section at one end, and an application section formingthe other end, said application section being formed with a plurality ofparallel elongated slits extending up to the handle section, saidelongated slits dividing said application section into a plurality ofarcuate sections which are normally in edgeto-edge contact and beingadapted to be brought forcibly into contact with the animals body so asto produce a rattling of said arcuate sections.

2. A device according to claim 1 and wherein said slits are at leastfour in number so as to produce four such arcuate sections.

3. A device according to claim 1 and including an annular ring slidablydisposed on said application section whereby the ring may be slid alongthe length thereof from the handle section downwardly so as to tightenthe arcuate sections against each other in their edge-to-edge contact asthe ring is slid downwardly.

4. A device according to claim 3 and wherein said slits are at leastfour in number so as to produce four arcuate sections, said annular ringbeing of resilient rubber material and of round cross-section, and saidhandle section being separated from said application section by anintegral enlargement formed on said device.

5. A noise producing device for producing variable sounds upon beingbrought forcibly in contact with an animals body, said device comprisingan elongated tubular a e 3 Iiieniber ha ing a handle section at one end,and an application seetian' foi'iiim 'g the other end, said applicationsection being formed with a plurality of parallel elongated slitsextending up to the handle section, said elongated slits dividing saidapplication section into a plurality of arcuate sections which arenormally in edge-to-edge contact so as to form a circle and beingadapted to be bfddglit forcibly into contact with the animals body so asto produce a rattling of said arcuate' sections:

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS2,678,158 Arant a May 11, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES Clipping; Humane whip todrive cattle, Popular Mechanics, December 1939, page 944.

Reinernan Sept; 20, 1904 r

